RENO, Nev. – In the battle of two preseason conference favorites the University of Nevada (2-0) men's basketball team, the Mountain West Conference favorites defeated preseason Atlantic 10 favorite Rhode Island (1-1) 88-81 at Lawlor Events Center. The crowd of 7,737 watched the Wolf Pack improve to 2-0 while the Rams dropped to 1-1. Both teams were receiving votes in the latest national polls.
Nevada plays its next two games on the road at Santa Clara on Wednesday and at Pacific on Saturday. Both games tip at 7 p.m. and can be seen online at TheW.tv.
In a close first half the Pack scored the final six points and led by 10 at the break 38-28. Nevada extended its advantage to 12 points early in the second half but the Rams kept battling back and tied the score at 62 and then again at 66 with 8:07 to play.
Josh Hall put the Pack up 68-66 and Nevada did not trail the rest of the game on the way to the seven-point victory. The game was decided at the free throw line as the Pack made 36-of-44 shots and URI 10-of-18.
Junior
Jordan Caroline posted his first double-double of the season with game highs in points 28 and rebounds 12.
Caleb Martin followed his season opening 26 point game with 24 tonight. Twin brother
Cody Martin was the third player in double figures with 13 points.
Jared Terrell netted a team-high 24 for the Rams.
Game Notes
Nevada improved to 2-0 with its 88-81 win over Rhode Island.
Head coach
Eric Musselman is now 54-21 in his third season at Nevada.
The Pack scored 88 points in each of its first two wins of the season.
The Wolf Pack is 31-4 at Lawlor Events Center under Musselman.
Nevada is 15-1 in its last 16 games at LEC.
Caleb Martin has scored 26 and 24 points in his first two games at Nevada.
Jordan Caroline's double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds was the 15
th of his Pack career.
Caroline led the Pack in scoring for the eighth time and 21
st time in rebounding in his career.
It was Caroline's 17
th career double figure rebound game.
-- @NevadaWolfPack --
